PREM 2017 Intellectual Merit Highlights

Oscar O. Bernal, California State University L A University Auxiliary Services Inc.

T1: Magnetic and Electric Properties with Applications

Designing methods and devices for efficient mutual control of electricity and magnetismDeveloping low-power consumptionWe designed and fabricated Graphite-fiber reinforced copper composite wires to meet the requirements of wire strength of about 400% of pure copper’s strength while retaining at least 80% of electrical conductivity of a copper wire.

T2: Photochemistry with Novel Materials and Applications

Designing alternative, more efficient pathways and tools for controlling photochemistry of natural and artificial processes in specific applications.We found excited oxygen (singlet oxygen) is rapidly quenched by Cd-SR surfaces, and will oxidize Cd-SR moieties. Using them in combination with photosensitizers may lead to self-destruction of the material.

T3: Microfluidics

In the process of developing new gel-based microfluidic batteries to power small electronic devices and novel wax-based printing technologies for microfluidic devices.We found an increase of substrate concentration is proportional to an increase in pumping speed.

2017 PREM Broader Impacts

PREM Annual Retreat

The PREM Annual Retreat was attended by our Advisory Board as well as our faculty, Deans, President, and PSU Collaborators

Advisory Board Report Excerpt:“The retreat was well organized and clearly shows the impact of collaborations between research-intensive Ph.D. granting programs and the three involved M.S. granting programs at CSULA. It plays to the strengths of both institutions. The participant students were excited, and very engaged.”

Outreach Efforts:Students from CSULA have gone to high schools in the area to conduct demonstrations on:-Superconductivity - allows electrons to move through the material without resistance.-Diamagnetism - makes the material repel to both north and south poles of a magnet.-FCC to BCC transitions with iron wire - current is applied to iron wire to make the transition from ferrite to austenite. Thermo couples are used to approximate the transition using its phase diagram.